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Posts Tagged ‘Review’

2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Capatain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 15, 2016

Cable Car SAM_2624

Captain Morgan and the Cable car

Admiral Sir Henry Morgan (aka Captain Morgan) was a Welsh ‘privateer’ who attacked and plundered the Caribbean on behalf of, and with the written consent of (in the form of an English Letter of Marque), the Governor of Jamaica, Sir Thomas Modyford. Privateers at that time in history were essentially ‘legal pirates’ who were allowed to attack and loot enemies of the state reaping the rewards from their plunder in lieu of pay. Researching Sir Henry Morgan, I learned he was a skilled naval captain, a ruthless buccaneer, and one of the most successful ‘privateers’ in the history of piracy earning a Knighthood for himself in 1674.

Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum is of course the name of Diageo’s top-selling spiced rum. It is the most successful spiced rum (at least with respect to sales) in the entire category, and has pretty much set the standard for sales and marketing for all other spiced rums to follow.

Here are my latest thoughts on the Original Captain:

#16 Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

” …  I began to taste light oak spices, a peppery citrus zest, and the faint echo of baking spices. My feeling is that the flavour profile is quite approachable, but it is not really geared towards sipping. This is a mixer and that is where the rum excels …”

Please enjoy the review which includes a fantastic cocktail recipe created by Tony Abou-Ganim, the Cable Car.

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I hope you all find this countdown enjoyable and you can follow the rankings here:

The Rum Howler 2016 Spiced Rum Countdown

Posted in Awards, Extras, Rum, Rum Reviews, Spiced Rum | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on 2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Capatain Morgan Original Spiced Rum

2016 Spiced Rum Taste-off: Lamb’s Blacksheep Spiced Rum

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 12, 2016

lambs-blacksheepLamb’s Blacksheep Spiced Rum was recently dropped from the  Corby Brands website which lists their entire stable of North American Brands. hopefully this is only temporary as the brand featured a very unique take on the spiced rum category. When the brand was listed, they offered this description of the spiced rum:

“…Lamb’s® Black Sheep Spiced Rum is produced and blended in small batches to ensure consistency of the complex flavour profile that is unique to the rum category. Our ingredients – the finest cinnamon from Korintje, Madagascar-bourbon vanilla and lime essence from Mexico have been carefully selected from around the world to ensure optimal enjoyment on the palate…”

My bottle of the Blacksheep rum is bottled at 37.5 % alcohol by volume, and even though it has disappeared from Corby’s website it is still available in my locale in the attractive 750 ml bottle shown to the left.

Here is a link to my review:

#17 Lamb’s Blacksheep Spiced Rum

“… Speaking of the cinnamon, it’s imprint is felt firmly in the breeses above the glass as is a healthy dose of vanilla. The combination of sugar sweetener, cinnamon, and vanilla reminds me of those tiny red heart-shaped candies I used to buy as a kid. Behind the cinnamon and the vanilla is the mild caramel scent …”

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I hope you all find this countdown enjoyable and you can follow the rankings here:

The Rum Howler 2016 Spiced Rum Countdown

 

Posted in Rum, Rum Reviews | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Review: Espolon Reposado Tequila

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 11, 2016

Lonely Silver Rain SAM_2572Espolon is a tequila brand created by Master Distiller Cirilo Oropeza. This is a premium tequila made in a small batch process from ‘hand-selected 100% Blue Weber agave, grown in the rich red clay and cool climate of the Highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. At that facility piñas of the hand selected agave are cooked for 18 to 20 hours prior to their fermentation. They apparently use a slower distillation technique than is in use at most other facilities, and when the spirit is finished, their Espolon Reposado Tequila is aged in new American Oak barrels for 6 months, filtered and then bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume.

The Espolon website tells us that the company likes to play rock music at their facilities to ‘inspire’ the agave. I did a little follow-up research and found a question and answer session with the Espolon Master Distiller, Cirilo Oropeza on the Campari America (the brand owner) website (see here) where the Mr. Oropeza admits he actually prefers to play classical music instead. This is because (according to Oropeza when referring to classical music), “it’s not so fast, not so crazy, it’s gentler for the yeast.” 

Here is a link to my full review of the Espolon Reposado Tequila which apparently is produced after exposure to in interesting range of musical styles:

Review: Espolon Reposado Tequila

“… The first sip brings a slight coolness to the palate a we have a light menthol-like flavour melded into the soft agave and peppery spice of the highland tequila. A mild but firm impression of sweetness comes through as well resembling light butterscotch lying alongside the agave. There is a gentle vanilla presence, hints of cinnamon and milk chocolate and a scattering of sandalwood spice …”

Please enjoy my latest review as I continue to walk on the wild side with the agave spirit, Chimo!

 

Posted in Reposado Tequila, Tequila, Tequila Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: Espolon Reposado Tequila

Review: George Dickel Rye Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 8, 2016

George Dickel Rye

George Dickel Rye (introduced in 2012) is a straight rye whisky produced from a 95 % rye mashbill. It is the only whisky produced by the company (George A Dickel & Co.) not distilled and aged at their Cascade Distillery in Cascade Hollow, Tennessee.Instead the rye whisky is mashed using a 95% rye and 5% malted barley mashbill, then distilled and aged by Midwest Grain Products (MGP) in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.

The whisky is then sent to Diageo’s Plainfield, Illinois facility where it is first chilled to a specific specifications before being charcoal mellowed, and then bottled at 45 % alcohol by volume. (The brand is currently owned by Diageo).

Here is a link to my full review:

Review: George Dickel Rye Whisky

“… The breezes above the glass carry strong rye note coupled with woody spice, maple and caramel. The aromas have merged together well and the combination is very enticing. As I allowed the glass to breathe I noticed a nice mixture of vanilla and baking spice  cinnamon and hints of nutmeg and allspice) which gave the air a bit of a rum-like aroma …”

Please enjoy  my review of this pleasing rye whisky.

Chimo!

Posted in American Whiskey, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , | Comments Off on Review: George Dickel Rye Whisky

Review: Gibson’s Finest Bold Canadian Whisky

Posted by Arctic Wolf on June 6, 2016

Finest Buckeroo SAM_2611Gibson’s Finest recently released a brand new 8-year-old expression in Alberta, Gibson’s Finest Bold Canadian Whisky. What makes it ‘Bold’ is the bottling proof which is a full 46 % alcohol by volume which is a full 6 % more than the 40 % alcohol by volume bottlings which are standard for the Canadian Whisky category. The whisky also features what the media notes call a ‘bold deep colour’. The dark colour or the whisky combined with the higher bottling proof apparently are part of the reason why the producer claims the whisky is ‘specially crafted to deliver Canada’s Finest Rye and Cola’.

Here is a link to my latest Canadian Whisky review:

Review: Gibson’s Finest Bold Canadian Whisky

“… When I bring my nose to the glass, a caramel note is quite obvious and sits out in front of the oak spice and whisky grain. I allowed the glass to breathe and soon noticed a building fruitiness of canned pears and baked apples. As time passes vanilla with a touch of cinnamon emerges and melds into the caramel note which now resembles the smell of baking cinnamon buns …”

Please enjoy my review of this brand new Canadian Whisky!

Chimo!

Posted in Canadian Whisky, Whisk(e)y, Whisk(e)y Review | Tagged: , , , , , | Comments Off on Review: Gibson’s Finest Bold Canadian Whisky